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Little selfies for tight security

Bryan Yap, 36, and his four-year-old daughter, Carina, smile for the camera at Learning Vision. At 40 schools run by Knowledge Universe, pre-schoolers take selfies as a form of attendance and to record their temperature.

A facial-recognition system at the entrance scans faces and matches images to a database of authorised parents.

Knowledge Universe head of operations Julia Teo said that the systems were put in place to cut down on administrative processes and maintain a high level of security. In March, the LittleLives platform was expanded, she said.

"Time-pressed parents can now benefit from a central online portal where they can closely monitor their child's learning progress and achievements in preschool - much like an interactive report card," Ms Teo said.

A spokesman for Cherie Hearts, which has piloted a similar system that requires the children to take a selfie, said that this was done to reduce paperwork and administration, in order to free up teachers to concentrate on the children.

Pre-schools also use iPads and other forms of technology to keep young minds engaged.

A spokesman for EtonHouse said that they use interactive whiteboards, which are touchscreens, and light tables.

Ms Jessie Ang, whose six-year-old son is in K2 at Learning Vision in Changi Business Park, said that, with the portal, she can monitor both his health and activities.

She said: "Sometimes, when I ask him how his day was, he doesn't remember what he did. When I show him the photos that are uploaded on the portal, he remembers, and the stories flow."